Frame construction for doors and windows



23, 1965 H. M. RIEGELMAN FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS Filed July 20, 1964 United States Patent 3,267,632 FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS Harry M. Riegelman, Rolling Hills, Calif., assignor to Ador Corporation, Fullerton, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 20, 1964, Ser. No. 383,654 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-656) This invention relates generally to frames for win dows, doors and the like, and more particularly to a new and improved corner construction for such frames.

Sliding door or window construction commonly includes a metahframed glass door or window which slides open from a lock jamb in a direction towards a normally fixed glass panel, usually closely adjacent and parallel thereto. Sliding screen doors are also frequently mounted within the same frame for sliding movement parallel to the other panels. The frame is typically fabricated from extruded aluminum head, sill and jamb members which are suitable formed to provide cooperating flanges, ridges and channels for engaging and accommodating the sashes of the movable and fixed panels. The sashes of the panels are also typically fabricated from extruded aluminum stile and rail members.

Usually, the frames for doors and windows of the aforedescribed type are fairly massive and are reinforced to a considerable degree by the structure of the building Walls in which they are mounted. However, it has been a common practice for lighter and more economical frame construction, e.g., those used on mobile homes and the like, to mount the frames directly on the outer structural skins of rather thin walls. In such arrangements, the frames are not only less rigid in and of themselves, but the installed frames also receive less structural reinforcement from the walls in which they are mounted. In addition, the frame itself usually provides the exterior trim for the door or window. Unfortunately, however, such frame constructions have a tendency to buckle slightly during installation or with subsequent use, so that the miter or but-t joints at the corners of the frame have a tendency to spread apart. The result of the latter is not only a weakened frame, but an unsightly appearance as well. Hence, the corners of such frames have, in many instances, had to be welded to keep the joints from spreading apart.

Designers of door and window constructions, as well as builders in the field, have long recognized the need for an improved frame design which is rigid and prevents unsightly gapping at the corners. The present invention fulfills this need.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved frame construction for doors, windows and the like which overcomes the above and other disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object is to provide a new and improved frame construction of relatively simple design which is suitable for installation in mobile homes and the like.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved frame construction for doors, windows and the like which presents a more attractive appearance for use as an exterior trim upon a building wall.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved frame construction having enhanced strength and rigidity.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved frame construction for doors, windows and the like which prevents unsightly joint spreading at the corners of the frame.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved frame construction having a concealed butt joint at each of the four corners thereof.

Another object is to provide a new and improved frame construction for doors, windows and the like which obviates the need for welding the corners to prevent joint spreading.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved frame construction for doors, windows, and the like, wherein the frame is lightweight, rugged, and easily assembled.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of illustrative embodiments thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, looking from the outside in, of one embodiment of a frame construction in accordance with the present invention, portions being shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of thejamb and sill corner construction at the lower right hand corner of the frame in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of another embodiment of a frame construction in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the jamb and head members for the frame corner construction shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown a window or door 10 embodying a frame construction 12 in accordance with the present invent-ion. The frame 12 is preferably fabricated from extruded aluminum head, sill and jamb frame members 14, 1-5, and 16, respectively, which are suitably formed to provide cooperating flanges, ridges and channels which engage and accommodate the sashes of a plurality of sliding and fixed panel members (not shown).

The assembled frame 12 shown in FIGURE 1 is of relatively light construction and is adapted to be mounted directly upon the outer skin of thin building walls such as those typically encountered in trailer constructions. To this end, all of the frame members 14-16 are provided with holes through their outer flange surfaces for receipt of appropriate fastening means, such as the screws 18a and 18b which secure the frame to the outer skin of the building wall (not shown). In this connection, the outer surfaces of the frame 12 also provide the exterior trim for the window or door 10.

Referring to FIG-UR'ES 1 and 2, it will be apparent that the jamb 16 engages the head member 14 and sill member 15 at each corner to form butt joints 20, 2 2, respectively. The use of such butt joints is desirable from an economy of manufacture standpoint, since such butt joints require a minimum amount of machining. However, both butt and miter joints are highly susceptible to spreading at each corner, and such joints thus present an unsightly appearance where the frames are used as exterior trim. As previously indicated, the corner joints have sometimes been welded to prevent such spreading and to reinforce the frame structure.

In accordance with the present invention, the butt joint at each corner of the frame 12 is concealed from view. To this end, each of the head and sill members 14, 15, respectively, has an integral outer flange 2-4 which overlaps the butt joint between the head or sill member and the jamb member 16. In this connection, the flange 24 "extends from the same ledge 26 against which the butt end 27 of the jamb member 16 rests when the frame 12 is assembled. Since the butt joint between the jamb member 16 and the head or sill member is behind the overlapping flange 24, looking from the outside of the window or door 10 towards the inside (FIGURE 1), the corners of the frame 12 will not present an unsightly appearance even if the joints should spread apart.

to secure the assembled frame 12 to the outer skin of the building wall and, at the same time, structurally reinforce the frame corner construction.

In order to further enhance the structural rigidity of the frame 12, each jarnb member 16 is provided with an elongated, raised rib 32 along its entire length. Each end of the jamb rib 32 is adapted to seat within a close fitting complementary slot 34 in the flange 24. As a result, the jamb member 16 interlocks with the head member 14 or sill member at each corner of the frame 12. This interlocking arrangement at each corner of the frame 12 further enhances the resistance of the frame to joint spreading at each corner.

As a result of the joint overlap and frame member interlock arrangement at each corner of the frame 12, the frame is extremely rigid. Hence, the need for welding frame members together at each corner is completely obviated, and the frame members can be merely held together by screws. In this connection, note the sill member screw holes 36. in FIGURE 32 which are aligned with the extruded screw channels 38 of the jamb member 16.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, there is shown another embodiment of the overlapping joint and interlocking frame member corner construction of the present invention. A head frame 114 is in engagement with a jamb frame member 116 at the corner illus trated. A butt joint 120 is formed between the pair of members 114, 116. An integral outer flange 124 extends from the jamb member 116 to overlap and conceal the butt joint 120, the flange 124 extending from the same jamb ledge 126 engaged by the butt end 128 of the head member 114.

The head member 114 is also provided with a raised rib 132 along its entire length, each rib end being adapted to seat within a close fitting slot 134 in the flange 124, so that the head and jamb members interlock to reinforce the frame corner construction. Hence, the frame construction is sufficiently rigid so that the frame members can be assembled by means of screws rather than by welding. In this connection, the holes 136 in the jamb 116 are positioned to register with the extruded screw channels 138 of the head member 114 when the frame is assembled.

In both of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, a corner construction is provided which conceals the joint between the frame members at each corner of the frame and further serves to substantially enhancethe strength and rigidity of the frame at each corner.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while particular forms of my invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Accordingly, Ido not intend that my invention be limited, except as by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a frame construction, the combination comprising:

a plurality of frame members secured together at their remote ends to form a substantially rectangular frame, a pair of said frame members being in abutment at each corner to form a butt joint therebetween, one of said frame members at each corner having a raised rectangular rib integral therewith and extending the full length thereof, said rib being in interlocking engagement with the Walls defining a close-fitting rectangular complementary slot in an integral flange of the other frame member of said pair at the same corner, said flangev extending the full length of said other frame member and extending from the same surface of said other frame member in abutment with said one frame member, whereby said fiangeoverlaps and conceals the butt joint between said pair of frame members, said one frame member further including at least one screw channel integral with and in abutment with said other frame member in registry with a hole in said other frame member, and a screw passing through said hole and into said screw channel whereby said one frame member and said other frame member are secured together at said corner.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,680 5/1934 Richards 2011 2,601,164 6/1952 Montgomery 18976 2,617,502 11/1952 Kessler 189.36 X 2,635,720 4/1953 Kolkey et al. 18936 X 2,952,883 9/1960 Kessler et al 2011 X 3,113,354 12/1963 Johnson 18936 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,267 632 Dated August 23 1966 Invent0r(s) Harry M. Riegelman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 32, "with" (first occurrence) should read --therewith--.

SEGNED AND SEALED Auslalsm Mil-Emi mm x. mm, 3.

Commissioner of Patents Amazin Officer USCOMM-DC 6037 S-DAO )RM PO-XOSO (10439] 

